Method and apparatus for selenium removal from high TDS wastewater

Abstract

A process for removal of selenium and nitrate from waste water includes both electrochemical and bioprocessing treatment. Embodiments include use of activated walnut shell a growth media for selenium-reducing bacteria.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for simultaneous removal of selenium, nitrate, and heavy metals from wastewater, comprising:
 preconditioning wastewater containing selenite, selenate, nitrate, and heavy metals by a process comprising: 
 removing suspended solids from the wastewater; 
 adjusting a pH of the wastewater to between 6.0 and 8.5; 
 removing precipitated inorganic salts from the wastewater by filtration; 
 electrochemically treating the wastewater to decrease the amount of at least one of oxygenated compounds and oxygen radicals, thereby reducing an oxidation reduction potential of the wastewater; 
 following the electrochemical treatment, treating the wastewater in at least one of a clarifier and a filter; 
 treating the wastewater in at least one column, said column packed with a porous media providing a surface for growth and maintenance of a biofilm upon and in the porous media, wherein said porous media is a chemically treated walnut shell media having a bulk density of 600 to 1000 Kg/m 3  and a particle size from 0.5 to 5.0 mm, wherein said biofilm reduces selenite and selenate to form elemental selenium, and wherein said biofilm also reduces nitrate to form nitrogen gas; and 
 backwashing said at least one column to remove the elemental selenium and precipitated heavy metals, and an excess biomass from the column, wherein said backwashing does not diminish bioactivity of the biofilm growing upon and in the porous media. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a carbon source to the wastewater upstream of the at least one column. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the walnut shell media is treated with an alkali prior to inclusion in a column. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising filtering the wastewater subsequent to treatment in the column. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the filtering is accomplished by at least one of media filtering, aerobic biological process and membrane filtration. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising physical and/or chemical treatment of the wastewater prior to treatment in the column, wherein the physical treatment is may be clarification and the chemical treatment is may be pH adjustment and desaturation. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein 70-85% of selenium is removed from the wastewater in the electrochemical treatment. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical treatment is conducted by an electrochemical treatment system including a feed tank, a pump, and an ECT module, said ECT module comprising an electrical voltage supply and static mixer, and clarifier. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxidation reduction potential exiting the electrochemical process is reduced to less than but not including 0 mV. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical treatment operates at a current density between 5 A/m 2  and 30 A/m 2 . 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wastewater is flue gas desulfurization blowdown water from a power plant. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wastewater is mining industry water. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment in the column packed with a porous media has a hydraulic retention time between 30 and 60 minutes. 
     
     
       14. A method for treatment of wastewater from a flue gas desulfurization process, comprising:
 providing wastewater from a flue gas desulfurization process, said wastewater comprising nitrate, selenite, selenite, and heavy metals; 
 removing suspended solids from the wastewater; 
 adjusting a pH of the wastewater to between 6.0 and 8.5; 
 removing precipitated inorganic salts from the wastewater by filtration; 
 electrochemically treating the wastewater to decrease the amount of at least one of oxygenated compounds and oxygen radicals, thereby reducing an oxidation reduction potential of the wastewater; 
 treating the wastewater in at least one of a clarifier and a filter; 
 treating the wastewater containing selenite, selenate, nitrate, and heavy metals, in at least one column, said column packed with a porous media providing a surface for growth and maintenance of a biofilm upon and in the porous media, wherein the porous media is a chemically treated walnut shell media having a bulk density of 600 to 1000 Kg/m 3  and a particle size from 0.5 to 5.0 mm, wherein said biofilm reduces selenite and selenate to form elemental selenium, and wherein said biofilm also reduces nitrate to form nitrogen gas; 
 backwashing said at least one column to remove the elemental selenium and precipitated heavy metals, and an excess biomass from the column, wherein said backwashing does diminish bioactivity of the biofilm growing upon and in the porous media; and 
 performing at least one of discharging and recycling the treated wastewater. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising filtering the wastewater subsequent to treatment in the column. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the filtering is accomplished by at least one of media filtering, aerobic biological process and membrane filtration. 
     
     
       17. A method for treatment of wastewater from a mining process, comprising:
 providing wastewater from a mining process, said wastewater comprising nitrate, selenite, selenite, and heavy metals; 
 removing suspended solids from the wastewater; 
 adjusting a pH of the wastewater to between 6.0 and 8.5; 
 removing precipitated inorganic salts from the wastewater by filtration; 
 electrochemically treating the wastewater to decrease the amount of at least one of oxygenated compounds and oxygen radicals, thereby reducing an oxidation reduction potential of the wastewater; 
 treating the wastewater in at least one of a clarifier and a filter; 
 treating the wastewater containing selenite, selenate, nitrate, and heavy metals, in at least one column, said column packed with a porous media providing a surface for growth and maintenance of a biofilm upon and in the porous media, wherein said porous media is a chemically treated walnut shell media having a bulk density of 600 to 1000 Kg/m 3  and a particle size from 0.5 to 5.0 mm, wherein said biofilm reduces selenite and selenate to form elemental selenium, and wherein said biofilm also reduces nitrate to form nitrogen gas; 
 backwashing said at least one column to remove the elemental selenium and precipitated heavy metals, and an excess biomass from the column, wherein said backwashing does diminish bioactivity of the biofilm growing upon and in the porous media; and 
 performing at least one of discharging and recycling the treated wastewater. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising filtering the wastewater subsequent to treatment in the column. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the filtering is accomplished by at least one of media filtering, aerobic biological process and membrane filtration.